The Intel Core i9 14900K is the ultimate flagship to grace the LGA 1700 CPU socket, theoretically serving as the last word showcase for what staff blue’s processors can do. Whereas that is true in the case of efficiency in video games and purposes, it’s not possible to disregard how sizzling this chip runs, its thirst for watts, and the negligible generational enhancements it provides.
I’ve been utilizing the Core i9 14900K for a couple of week for this assessment, with the brand-new ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Darkish Hero motherboard serving as its house. Sadly, attempt as it would, I can’t describe this processor as one of many best gaming CPUs on the market with out some substantial caveats. That mentioned, it does have some clear strengths you probably have the cooling setup, energy provide, and abdomen to deal with it.
Execs:
- Sturdy single-threaded efficiency
- Unrivalled multi-threaded capabilities
- Nice body fee consistency
Cons:
- Usually falls behind cheaper AMD X3D CPUs in video games
- Terribly energy hungry
- Requires a high-end cooling answer
Specs
The Core i9 14900K specs are near-identical to the earlier Intel flagship, the Core i9 13900KS, albeit with greater max turbo frequencies for each the efficiency cores (P-Cores) and environment friendly cores (E-Cores).
Nonetheless, these clock pace boosts are negligible at finest. P-Cores take pleasure in a 200MHz uplift, whereas E-Cores see a 100MHz improve. This minor bump leaves little motive for house owners of thirteenth gen i9 processors to improve, because the efficiency will increase they provide, if any, are merely not large enough.
This downside isn’t distinctive to the Core i9 14900K, with the Intel Core i5 14600K additionally struggling to distinguish itself from its predecessor by way of specs. In the meantime, the Intel Core i7 14700K does no less than take pleasure in 4 further E-Cores to raised separate itself from the prior technology.
Intel Core i9 14900K specs:
| Socket | LGA 1700 |
| Cores (P+E) | 24 (8+16) |
| Threads | 32 |
| Base Clock (P / E) | 3.20GHz / 2.40GHz |
| Max. Turbo Freq. (P / E) | 5.60GHz / 4.40GHz |
| L2 Cache | 32MB |
| L3 Cache | 36MB |
| TDP | 125W |
There are two options, nonetheless, which can be distinctive to the Core i9 14900K, however we count on will see wider help down the road, both throughout the 14th gen collection or on the upcoming Core Extremely household of processors. The primary, briefly, is an replace to the Intel Excessive Tuning Utility, leveraging AI to reinforce the overclocking expertise.
The opposite is ‘Intel Software Optimization’, which goals to raised decide and direct utility sources in real-time for elevated efficiency. At the moment, there are solely two video games that profit from the tech, Rainbow Six: Siege and Metro: Exodus. Neither recreation options as a part of our regular benchmark suite, so we haven’t had probability to check this, however we might revisit it because the listing of supported titles grows.
Lastly, as with all 14th gen elements, the Core i9 14900K additionally provides help for the most recent wi-fi applied sciences, specifically Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3. It’ll additionally deal with Thunderbolt 5 too, when it arrives. Intel has additionally thrown a bone to house owners of the best gaming RAM, rising XMP speeds previous 8,000MT/s.
Benchmarks
Our method to Intel Core i9 14900K benchmarks stays the identical as with different processor evaluations. The CPU is paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU to take away any potential graphics card bottlenecks, as this pixel pusher is greater than able to dealing with ray tracing and rasterization assessments.
All body fee testing is carried out at 1080p to put extra pressure on the processor whereas sustaining a practical use-case decision, with extra perception supplied by artificial assessments by 3DMark and Cinebench 2024.
Each the Core i9 14900K and comparability CPUs within the bar charts under have been freshly examined for this assessment, utilizing the most recent BIOS and drivers accessible on the time. All parts have been mirrored throughout every processor examined, save for the motherboard, naturally.
Listed below are the specs of our take a look at system:
- CPU: Intel Core i9 14900K
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Darkish Hero (BIOS v052)
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5 6,000MHz
- Cooler: Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
- Driver: GeForce Recreation Prepared – WHQL (537.42)
- OS: Home windows 11 Professional 22H2 (22621.2428)
- SSD: Samsung 990 Professional 4TB
- PSU: Corsair RMx SHIFT Collection 1000W
- Case: Corsair 5000D RGB Airflow
The Core i9 14900K seems to place in a robust displaying in our gaming benchmarks, preserving tempo or in any other case beating the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X in all however one occasion. Nonetheless, it can not persistently compete with the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, a processor that prices $140 much less.
It flexes its power finest within the Whole Struggle: Warhammer 3 ‘Mirrors of Insanity’ benchmark, having fun with a 4fps lead versus the Ryzen 7 7800X3D in common body charges and pulls forward by 10fps in the case of 1% lows. The Core i9 14900K snatches one other victory in Cyberpunk 2077, utilizing the sport’s ‘Extremely’ settings, with a close to 100fps minimal body fee, nevertheless it falls behind the 3D V-Cache CPU on the typical entrance.
Other than these wins, the Core i9 14900K typically finds itself taking part in second fiddle to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Whereas the benefits loved by the staff pink chip don’t translate to each recreation available on the market, it’s constant sufficient that it’s on common a greater purchase for gaming.
Briefly, and oddly, the Core i9 14900K does handle to defeat the Ryzen 7 7800X3D in the case of Civilization VI, solely to concede to the Ryzen 9 7900X. All of the flip instances produced by the CPUs are inside a second or two of one another, however the Core i9 14900K seems all the more serious for it when energy draw enters the equation (which we’ll contact on shortly).
Relating to artistic and manufacturing purposes, the Core i9 14900K seems to be an absolute beast in each sense of the phrase. Its 24 cores and 32 threads left every part else within the mud, in Cinebench 2024 and the 3DMark CPU Profile benchmarks. The latter’s Time Spy take a look at additionally noticed Intel take pleasure in a snug lead too, regardless of it not translating right into a tangible distinction in real-world gaming.
As such, if you happen to’re somebody who requires a do-it-all processor that may each work and play, then the Core i9 14900K seems to be a robust contender. That’s, after all, if you happen to don’t must suppose twice about your electrical energy invoice and dwell in a colder setting, as a result of this Intel CPU loves watts and runs sizzling.
Whereas the Core i9 14900K is a class-leader in the case of topping the Cinebench 2024 charts, it does so by guzzling as much as 343W. I didn’t see numbers fairly so excessive in video games, however CPU Bundle Energy did attain uncomfortable ranges of as much as 260W in each Civilization VI and Cyberpunk 2077.
Worse nonetheless, even with a 360mm AIO cooler hooked up to it, the working temperatures of the Core i9 14900K ranged from 70-90°C underneath load. It is a beefy processor, and it calls for an equally beefy cooling answer, as in any other case I can solely foresee the chip thermal throttling.
Distinction this with the way more environment friendly and cooler Ryzen 7 7800X3D, and it turns into even more durable to justify utilizing the Core i9 14900K in its stead for gaming. Intel does appear to have the benefit in different purposes, nevertheless it’s not with out its issues.
Value
The Intel Core i9 14900K value is $599 / £579, making it price the identical because the 13900K did at launch. This is a crucial qualifier, as thirteenth gen CPUs can already be discovered for a reduction, leaving little justification for spending the additional money on this 14th gen chip.
Whereas the Core i9 14900K is laden with intergenerational pricing issues on one aspect, it faces a fair steeper hurdle when AMD enters the body. Intel has a 3D V-Cache downside that it doesn’t have a surefire reply to, leaving the Ryzen 7 7800X3D to rule the gaming roost largely unchecked. Not solely does the 14th gen flagship battle to match the X3D processor on efficiency, it’s additionally way more costly, to the purpose that AMD’s choice seems like a no brainer.
There are platform prices to think about too, because the LGA 1700 motherboard you buy for the Core i9 14900K received’t be appropriate with future Intel processors, in contrast to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and its AM5 ilk. That is much less of an issue if you have already got a board and want to improve, however then the uncomfortable reality of thirteenth vs. 14th gen pricing rears its head up as soon as once more.
The Core i9 14900K actually feels prefer it has nearly every part working towards its instant worth, with its future prospects not wanting a lot brighter both. I battle to think about any surefire situations through which its value is justified when the broader market is introduced into consideration.
Verdict
The Intel Core i9 14900K isn’t a lot a final hurrah for the LGA 1700 socket as it’s a last gasp. Its generational enhancements are meager, and these don’t quantity to something like sufficient to beat again its less expensive, and extra environment friendly competitors. All whereas it chugs again watts and runs sizzling sufficient to make high-grade water coolers sweat.
It is a tuned-up Core i9 13900KS with just a few further options in all however title, and it pains me that Intel opted to name it the Core i9 14900K reasonably than the Core i9 13900KX (or one thing else extra aptly descriptive). In a phrase, I’m merely disenchanted.
There’s loads of efficiency available with the Core i9 14900K, in gaming and with artistic or manufacturing workloads, to the purpose that it will possibly’t be written off as a nasty processor. That mentioned, there are too many caveats surrounding it that forestall that every one from shining by way of.
Options
Intel Core i9 13900K
The Intel Core i9 13900K shares many similarities with the Intel Core i9 14900K, together with core and thread depend. Whereas its clock speeds are barely decrease, you may usually discover it for a reduction, bettering its worth.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is costlier than the Intel Core i9 14900K, nevertheless it has extra threads and efficiency cores at its disposal, in addition to a larger pool of L3 cache. Its AM5 platform additionally supplies you with the additional benefit of upgrading your CPU sooner or later without having to purchase a brand new motherboard too.
Intel Core i9 14900K
The Intel Core i9 14900K struggles to persistently compete with cheaper AMD Ryzen X3D CPUs in gaming, and whereas it does present its power in different areas, its marginal generational enhancements and insatiable urge for food for watts can’t be ignored.
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